‘Asian Values’

Twenty Friedman units ago, our writer returned from another leave spent “researching” another book. Not to worry, though, as he returned in midseason form with this gem:

“We are not as powerful as we used to be because over the past three decades, the Asian values of our parents’ generation — work hard, study, save, invest, live within your means — have given way to subprime values: ‘You can have the American dream — a house — with no money down and no payments for two years.'”

These “Asian values,” of course, are the same ones Max Weber talked about in The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism.

— Friedman, Thomas L. 2008. “Who Will Tell the People?” The New York Times. May 4, 2008: WK.12.